Milano Unica 2026: Accademia Costume & Moda Strengthens the Dialogue Between Fashion Education and the Textile Industry

The students from the MA in Fabrics Innovation Design of Accademia Costume & Moda returned to Milano Unica, the leading international trade fair for high-end textiles and accessories, reaffirming its commitment to connecting fashion education, material research and the textile industry through hands-on learning experiences.

At this year’s edition, ACM presented a dedicated exhibition featuring textile developments created by the students as part of the Industry Projects developed in collaboration with leading Italian textile companies including Lanificio di Sordevolo, Lorma, Clerici and Ratti.

Textile innovation developed through industry collaboration

For students, exhibiting at Milano Unica offers the opportunity to engage directly with one of the most important international platforms for textile innovation, material research and fashion manufacturing.

The fabrics on display are the result of collaborative projects carried out with the ACM’s industry partners, transforming academic research into practical design outcomes. Material experimentation, colour development and textile innovation become part of a learning process that combines creativity with technical knowledge and an understanding of the contemporary fashion supply chain.

Milano Unica also provides an important environment for dialogue between students, companies and professionals, strengthening the relationship between fashion education and the textile industry.

Student projects across the exhibition

Accademia Costume & Moda’s presence extended beyond its own stand.

The showcase by Pontoglio 1883 featured garments designed by students from the MA in Menswear Design, while ‘Punk is All Around’, the exhibition curated by The Cube Archive, included looks styled with selected garments and accessories created by students from the BA in Costume & Fashion.

These collaborations highlight ACM’s ongoing partnerships with companies, archives and cultural institutions, offering students opportunities to contribute to professional projects while still completing their studies.

Fashion education connected to industry

For more than sixty years, Accademia Costume & Moda has developed an educational model based on design culture, craftsmanship, experimentation and continuous collaboration with the creative industries.

Participating in Milano Unica reflects this approach in practice. Through Industry Projects, students work alongside leading companies, develop professional skills within real production contexts and engage with the international fashion system before graduation.

For both Italian and international students looking for one of the leading fashion schools in the world to study fashion design, textile innovation, menswear or costume, experiences such as Milano Unica demonstrate how education becomes a direct connection between academic research, industry collaboration and professional practice.